Rotating receptacle structure for household refrigerators



June 11, 1957 R. CARBARY ROTATING RECEPTACLE STRUCTURE FOR HOUSEHOLDREFRIGERATORS Filed June 5, 1954 INVENTOR.

RICHARD J. CARBARY HIS ATTORNEY ROTATING RECEPTACLE STRUCTURE FORHOUSEHOLD REFREGERATORS Richard J. Carbary, Syracuse, N. Y., assignor toGeneral Electric Company, a corporation of New York Application June 3,1954, Serial No. 434,247

3 Claims. (Cl. 312-305) My invention relates to storage receptacles foruse in household refrigerators and more particularly to rotatablereceptacle structures for such use.

Heretofore rotatable shelves have been provided within householdrefrigerator cabinets in order to increase the accessability to thecontents of the cabinets. Through the rotation of these shelves anyportion thereof may be brought to the front of the cabinet to allow theready removal of stored foodstuffs. However, the vegetable pans or otherstorage receptacles included in these rotating shelf refrigerators havenot ordinarily been provided with a rotatable mount. Because of thedhficulties encountered with the covers of these pans or receptacles, ithas heretofore been advantageous to use sliding rather than rotatingreceptacles, even though the rotating receptacles are much easier tomove to an outward accessible position. Specifically with vegetable pansthese diflicnlties stem from the fact that the pan must, of course, beuncovered in its outward position if access to its contents is to be hadbut it must be re-covered when it is returned to its normal position ifloss of moisture from the vegetables is to be prevented. For asatisfactory structure both the uncovering and the re-covering of thepan should be accomplished automatically.

Accordingly, it is a primary object of my invention to provide a new andimproved rotatable receptacle structure for use in householdrefrigerators.

it is another object of my invention to provide an improved rotatablereceptacle structure for use in household refrigerators, in which thereceptacle is automatically uncovered as it is rotated outwardly fromits normal position and automatically recovered as it returns to itsnormal position.

It is a further object of my invention to provide an improved rotatablereceptacle structure for use in household refrigerators, in which astorage shelf of the refrigerator is adapted to act as a moistureretaining cover for the receptacle.

My invention also has as its object the provision of an improvedrotatable receptacle structure adapted for use in householdrefrigerators, which is inexpensive to manufacture and assemble withinthe refrigerator.

In carrying my invention into effect in one preferred form thereof, Iprovide a rotatable receptacle structure which includes an open-toppedreceptacle having an arcuate side wall. This open-topped receptacle ismounted within the storage compartment of the refrigerator by suitablemeans, which preferably include a vertically extending shaft secured tothe compartment liner. Above the open-topped receptacle there is mounteda solid shelf. This shelf has a more or less straight front edge and inmy preferred embodiment has an arcuate rear and side edge. Further itincludes an arcuate flange depending from its bottom surface. In fact inmy preferred embodiment this flange comprises a depending rim which runsalong the arcuate edge of the shelf. The depending flange extendsdownwardly, outside of, and below the brim of Patented June H, 1957 thearcuate side wall of the receptacle when the shelf and the receptacleare in their normal positions within the compartment; and due to thisoverlapping of the top of the receptacle by the flange the shelf acts asa moisture retaining cover for the receptacle. The shelf and its flangeor rim, however, do not hinder the rotation of the receptacle to anoutward accessible position. Rather the upper edge of the receptacle canmove freely within the arcuate flange. The edge merely describes asmaller arc than that of the flange or rim and concentric therewith, andthe receptacle can move out from under the shelf as it rotates outwardlyand back under the shelf and inside the flange as it rotates inwardly.Thus the result is that the receptacle is automatically uncovered as itis moved outwardly from its normal position within the refrigerator andis automatically re-covered when it is returned to its normal position.

In my preferred embodiment I support the open-topped receptacle by meansof a supporting frame which is rotatably mounted on the aforesaidvertical shaft; and in order to rotate the receptacle 1 provide handlemeans which are attached to the frame. This handle means includes aplate which is positioned in front of the receptacle and which has aninwardly inclined top portion covering the front portion of thereceptacle. This plate thus cooperates with the shelf in preventing lossof moisture from the contents of the receptacle when the receptacle isin its normal position within the refrigerator.

The novel features which are believed to be characteristic of myinvention are set forth with particularity in the appended claims. Myinvention itself, however, both as to its organization and mode ofoperation may be best understood by reference to the followingdescription taken in'conjunction with the accompanying drawings inwhich:

Fig. 1 is a fragmentary elevation view, partially in section andpartially broken away, of a preferred embodiment of my new and improvedrotatable receptacle structure mounted within a refrigerator cabinet;and

Fig. 2 is a horizontal sectional view of the refrigerator cabinet ofFig. 1, partially broken away and looking down on the rotatablereceptacle structure.

Referring now to the drawing, I have illustrated therein the lowerportion of a refrigerator cabinet which includes an outer metal wall 1and an inner metal wall or liner 2, the space between thewalls beingfilled with a suitable heat insulating material 3. The walls are formedto provide a door opening 4 at the front of the cabinet, and the spacebetween the walls in the area of the door is closed by a breaker strip 5of suitable heat insulating material. The space 6 defined by the linercomprises the food storage compartment of the cabinet and the dooropening 4, of course, provides access to that compartment. The openin 4may be closed by any suitable insulated door, as for example theinsulated door 7.

Within the food storage compartment 6 there is mounted a preferredembodiment of my new and improved rotatable receptacle structure. Inthis preferred embodiment the rotatable receptacle structure isrotatably mounted by means of a threaded shaft 8 which extendsvertically upward within the compartment. This shaft 8 may also be usedif desired to mount a plurality of rotatable shelves as well as thereceptacle structure. For example, in my preferred embodiment the shelf9 is so mounted.

For mounting the receptacle structure there is positioned around theshaft 8 a collar or hub member 10. This hub is not mounted in threadedengagement with the shaft but rather may be freely rotated therearound.For its vertical or thrust support it rests on a boss 11 that is firmlyattached to the refrigerator liner, which boss in my preferredembodiment also serves to mount the shaft 8. In order to provide forfree rotation of the hub 10 a nylon washer may be interposed between itand the boss 3 11 and a nylon bushing may be placed between the hub andthe shaft 8.

As may be best seen in Fig. 2 the hub 1t} has mounted thereon by anysuitable means, as for example by screws (not shown), a plurality ofspoke members 12 which radiate outwardly therefrom. These spoke members12, which rotate with the hub, form a semi-circular frame on whichreceptacles or pans may be placed. In order to add rigidity to the framethe spoke members 12 are joined together at their outer ends by means ofan arcuate frame member 13. This arcuate frame member 13 incidentally iscoaxial with the shaft 8 so it will always remain spaced from liner 2.no matter what its position of rotation;

On this supporting frame so formed by members 12 and 13 are positioned apair of open-topped receptacles or pans 14 and 15. Specifically, thebottom of each of these receptacles rests on the supporting frame.Extending upwardly from its bottom each of the receptaclesin" cludes astraight front wall, an arcuate side wall concentric with the shaft 8and an inner wall which includes a concave portion allowing clearancefor the shaft 8; More specifically the pan 14- includes a front wall 16,an arcuate side wall 17 and an inner wall 18 having a concave portion 19for shaft clearance. The corresponding walls of the pan 15 are similarlynumbered with thesubscript a. As shown in the diagram both of thereceptacles 14 and 15 are completely open at their tops so that accessmay be had to their contents. Further in my preferred embodiment the topedges of the receptacles are slanted downwardly in the front portionsthereof. For example in receptacle 14 the arcuate wall 17 and the innerwall 18 slant downwardly at their forward portions to the front wall 16,so that the front wall 16 is somewhat lower than the side and innerwalls through their greater extent. The slanted portion 20 of arcuateside wall 17 is clearly shown in Fig. 1.

It will be noted by reference to the diagram that in addition toallowing for shaft clearance the concave portions 19 and 1% also serveto locate the receptacles 14 and 15 in positive positions on thesupporting frame. Since they each partially surround the center shaft 8they provide a reference whereby the receptacles are psitioned atparticular predetermined positions on the supporting frame. As will bemore fully explained hereinafter this positive positioning is verydesirable in order to prevent the receptacles from bending against thenovel cover means provided for them.

Due to their positioning on the rotatable frame the receptacles 14 and15 of course rotate with the frame whenever it is moved. In the diagramthe supporting frame.

and the receptacles are shown in their normal positions within therefrigerator, and it will be seen that one receptacle or the other wdlbe moved outwardly from this position depending upon the direction inwhich they are rotated. Moreover if the rotation is continued through180 from the normal position, both receptacles will be moved to anoutward position no matter in which direction the rotation occurred.When either or both of the receptacles are moved to an outward position,access may then be had to their contents through their open tops. Sincethe receptacles only rest on the supporting frame and are not attachedthereto they may, of course, be removed from the refrigerator forcleaning-or other purposes.

But in order for the contents of the receptacles 14 and 15 to retaintheir moisture, as if for example the receptacles 14 and 15 were used asvegetable pans, means must be provided whereby the recptacles areautomatically uncovered as they are moved to an outward position andautomatically re-covered as they are moved back to their normal positionwithin the refrigerator. According to my invention I have provided newand improved means for accomplishing this result. Specifically in mypreferred embodiment, this means comprises the shelf 9 which is mountedon the-vertical shaft Sabovethe 'receptaclesr It should be understood,however, that the shelf could be mounted by other means as well as bythe shaft 8.

For mounting the shelf 9 the shaft 8 has threaded thereon a collar orhearing 21. This collar or hearing is ordinarily locked against rotationby any suitable means, as for example the set screw 22; The framemembers 7 23 of the shelf rest on this collar and are freely rotatablewith respect to it.

In other words they rotate on the collar as a thrust bearing. In orderto prevent tilting of the shelf it is provided with adecorative hub 24which surrounds the shaft 8 like the bearing 21. The hub 24 is, however,not threaded to the shaft 8 but rather is firmly secured to the shelfand rotates therewith. in fact a nylon bushing may be provided betweenit and the shaft 8 to aid in the rotation.

The shelf 9 has a more or less straight front edge 25 and an arcuaterear and side edge 26, and in my preferred embodiment it may be rotatedoutwardly from the normal position shown in order to provide access toany articles stored thereon. But in accordance with my invention, thisshelf as Well as serving as a means for storing articles also acts as amoisture retaining cover for the rotatable receptacle 14 and 15. Merelypositioning the shelf above the receptacles-would, however, not providea sutficient moisture trap to prevent the contents of the receptaclesfrom losing their moisture. Therefore, I have provided novel means onthe shelf for retaining the moisture within the receptacles. This novelmeans comprises a depending rib or flange 27 on the shelf which extendsdownwardly therefrom. This flange 27 extends downwardly, outside of, andbelow the brims of the arcuate side walls 17 and 17a of the receptacles14 and 15. In other words, its lower edge lies below and outside of theupper edges of the arcuate side walls of the receptacles. Thus itprovides a tortuous path between the receptacles and the rest of thefood storage compartment. This acts as an effective means for preventingvapor migration and thus moisture loss from the contents of thereceptacles.

In order to allow for the rotation of the receptacles into and out ofthe food storage compartment, the depending flange of the shelf isitself given an arcuate configuration. Specifically it comprises an aretaken on the same center as the arcuate sides 17 and 17a of thereceptacle, i. c. it comprises an arc taken around the vertical shaft 8.Therefore, the upper edges of the receptacles can move freely within thedepending flange. The edges of the receptacles merely describe smallerarcs than that of the flange and concentric therewith. There can thus beno friction or contact between the receptacles and the shelf or itsflange to hinder rotation. The positive reference provided by theconcave portions 19 and 19a of the receptacles, of course, insures thatthe receptacles are properly positioned on the supporting frame toeffect this result. It will be noted that in my preferred embodiment theflange 27 comprises a depending rim formed on the arcuate edge of theshelf. Where a shelf such as the shelf 9 having an arcuate rear and sideedge is used, the easiest and cheapest method of providing the moistureretaining flange thereon is to form it, as here shown, as a dependinglip running around that arcuate edge.

It will also be noted that in my preferred embodiment the front edge 25of the shelf 9 lies somewhat rearwardly of the front edges 16 and 16a ofthe receptacles. Such a configuration is not necessary to my inventionbut may advantageously be used for various reasons, as if for example itis desired to leave room to mount a door shelf on the inner liner of thedoor 7. However, with the front edge of the shelf lying inwardly of thefront edge of the receptacles, the forward or slanted portions of thereceptacles are not covered by the shelf.

In order to cover the forward slanted portions of the receptacles andalso in order to provide means for rotating the supporting frame andreceptacles, I have provided decorativehandle means which'are securedtothe supthey are in their normal positions.

porting frame. Thus as is clearly shown in Fig. 1, I have provided in mypreferred embodiment a decorative cover plate 28 which is secured to ttesupporting frame by any suitable means, as for example the screws 29.This decorative plate extends across the front of the receptaclescompletely covering them from view when they are in their normalposition. This plate 28 may be embossed or otherwise decorated so as toprovide an attractive front for the receptacle structure. Preferably itis also used as a handle for the receptacle structure. A recess or othersuitable means may be provided thereon in order to allow the housewifeto grip it.

The plate 28, however, in addition to serving as a decorative handlemeans, also as mentioned above cooperates with the shelf to prevent lossof moisture from the contents of the receptacle. Thus the plate 28includes an inwardly inclined top portion 30 which covers the slantedfront portion of the receptacle. Specifically, the portion 30 of theplate 28 is slanted inwardly to a point below the front edge 25 of theshelf so that it overlies substantially all of the slanted frontportions of the receptacles not inclosed by the depending flange 27 ofthe shelf. The slanted portion 30 of the plate thus joins with theflange 27 in providing an effective means for preventing loss ofmoisture from the contents of the receptacles.

It will be noted that the ends of the plate 28 are of a curvedconfiguration and that the plate 28 itself is slightly shorter than thefront edge of the shelf 9. Thus when the receptacle structure is rotatedthe plate 28 will move inwardly inside of the flange 27 without bindingthereagainst. In other words, the plate 28 is so formed that it too willnot hinder rotation of the receptacles.

In summation, it will be seen that I have provided an improved rotatablereceptacle structure wherein opentopped receptacles are completelycovered in their normal position within the refrigerator so that themoisture of their contents is not allowed to escape. But since thecovering shelf remains stationary as the receptacles are rotated, theoperation of this structure is such that the receptacles areautomatically uncovered as they are moved outwardly from their normalpositions within the refrigerator and are automatically re-covered bythe shelf when they are returned to their normal positions. Thus thereceptacles are always open when in their outward positions in orderthat access may be had to their contents, but yet are always covered toprevent moisture loss when Due to the arcuate configuration of thedepending moisture retaining flange of the shelf, no obstructionwhatsoever is offered to the rotation of the receptacles by the moistureretaining means. Further, in my preferred embodiment the moistureretaining plate 28 for the front portion of the receptacles is shortenough that it too may rotate within the depending flange of the shelf,and thus it too can offer no hindrance to rotation of the receptacles.

Since a shelf is used as the moisture retaining cover for thereceptacles, my new and improved rotatable receptacle structure isrelatively inexpensive to manufacture and assemble. Since the shelf willbe provided anyway for supporting foodstuffs, the expense of a separatecover is avoided. The only additional expense incident to my structureso far as the shelf is concerned is the provision of the dependingflange thereon. Also it will be seen that through my improved structurevery inexpensive receptacles can be used. Since the receptaclesthemselves are not secured in any way to the shaft but rather merelyrest on a supporting frame, inexpensive molded plastic receptacles maybe used. These molded plastic receptacles are much less expensive toproduce than are the rigid metal receptacles commonly used heretofore asvegetable pans.

While in accordance with the patent statutes I have described what atpresent is considered to be the preferred embodiment of my invention, itwill be obvious to those in the art that various changes andmodifications may be made therein without departing from the invention,and it is, therefore, aimed in the appended claims to cover all suchchanges and modifications as fall within the true spirit and scope of myinvention.

What I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the UnitedStates is:

1. In a refrigerator having a food storage compartment, a rotatablereceptacle structure comprising a vertically extending shaft mounted insaid compartment, a supporting frame rotatably mounted on said shaft, anopen-topped receptacle removably supported on said frame to be rotatablysupported thereby, said receptacle having an arcuate side wall, a solidshelf mounted on said shaft above said receptacle, said shelf having astraight front edge and an arcuate rear and side edge and including adepending rim along said arcuate edge, said depending rim extendingdownwardly outside of and below the brim of said arcuate side wall ofsaid receptacle when said shelf and said receptacle are in their normalpositions within said compartment, whereby said shelf acts as a moistureretaining cover for said receptacle without hindering rotation of saidreceptacle to an outer accessible position, and handle means mounted onsaid frame for turning said frame and said receptacle, said meansincluding a plate positioned in front of said receptacle and having aninwardly inclined top portion covering the front portion of saidreceptacle thereby to cooperate with said shelf to prevent loss ofmoisture from the contents of said receptacle.

2. In a refrigerator having a food storage compartment, a rotatablereceptacle structure comprising an open-topped receptacle having anarcuate side wall, means rotatably mounting said receptacle within saidcompartment, a solid shelf mounted in said compartment above saidreceptacle, said shelf having a straight front edge and an arcuate rearand side edge and including a depending rim along said arcuate edge,said depending rim extending downwardly outside of and below the brim ofsaid arcuate side Wall of said receptacle when said shelf and saidreceptacle are in their normal positions within said compartment,whereby said shelf acts as a moisture retaining cover for saidreceptacle without hindering the rotation of said receptacle to anoutward accessible position, and handle means mounted on said frame forturning said frame and said receptacle, said means including a platepositioned in front of said receptacle and having an inwardly inclinedtop portion covering the front portion of said receptacle thereby tocooperate with said shelf to prevent loss of moisture from the contentsof said receptacle.

3. In a refrigerator having a food storage compartment, a rotatablereceptacle structure comprising an open-topped receptacle having anarcuate side wall, means rotatably mounting said receptacle in said foodstorage compartment, a solid shelf mounted in said food storagecompartment above said receptacle, said shelf having a depending arcuateflange, said depending flange extending downwardly outside of and belowthe brim of said arcuate side Wall of said receptacle when said shelfand said receptacle are in their normal positions within saidcompartment, whereby said shellf acts as a moisture retaining cover forsaid receptacle without hindering the rotation of said receptacle to anoutward accessible position, and handle means for turning saidreceptacle secured to said means mounting said receptacle, said handlemeans including a plate positioned in front of said receptacle andhaving an inwardly inclined top portion covering the front portion ofsaid receptacle thereby to cooperate with said shelf to prevent loss ofmoisture from the contents of said receptacle.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS107,880 Comstock Oct. 4, 1870 2,605,160 Boddy July 29, 1952 2,746,830Fonda et a1. May 22,

